The Google Health Card

Way back in 2012, Google added something called the Knowledge Graph to their search database to enhance search engine results. For the user, this meant access to structured and detailed information about the topic along with several additional links. It basically ‘compiled’ search results and helped users who wanted a snapshot of sorts without having to laboriously navigate through the search results and gather the information themselves. This soon became an integral part of typical search results. So much so that the short summary provided at the beginning of the Knowledge Graph is often used as the spoken answer in Google Now searches.

Google they say knows everything. Small wonder then that people turn to Google for all their queries. As of 2015, Google alone had over 4.7 billion daily searches. Not just that, over 72% of users said that they typically start with Google when it comes to seeking health information online – whether it is for themselves or for others. In fact, search is where over 75% of all health information seekers come from when compared to other channels available online. So it wasn’t really a surprise when Google decided to launch Health Cards in India. What was a surprise however was that India was the third country to witness this launch after the US and Brazil. 

So what exactly are these Health Cards anyway? 

Simply put, when you search for one of more than 400 health conditions common to India (including the likes of malaria and dengue fever) you are presented with the regular search engine results page (SERP) accompanied by a panel to the right. This panel (which Google calls a card) carries an illustration, major symptoms, need for lab tests for diagnosis, most commonly affected age groups and also indicates whether a condition is contagious along with other such information.

Health Card for Type 2 Diabetes on Google

The cards are currently available in both English and Hindi. Google has said that they are working on more languages as well as expanding the number of conditions covered. AIIMS, Apollo Hospitals, Columbia Asia Hospitals and ASHAs (Community health workers in India) were among those who worked closely with Google to make this service a reality.